A brute force attack is an increasingly common method hackers use to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data by guessing passwords. According to Verizon’s 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report, over 80% of data breaches occur due to “brute force” attacks or the use of lost or stolen credentials. These attacks have become even more prevalent with the rise of remote work, which has introduced new cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Before exploring how to prevent brute force attacks, let’s examine some common characteristics of this threat.
Brute Force Attacks: Definition and Prevention Tips
A brute force attack is a trial-and-error hacking method to guess login credentials. Hackers or automated bots systematically try every possible combination of passwords until they find the correct one. The term “brute force” reflects the relentless approach of repeatedly attempting to break into an account or system through persistence, ultimately gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Brute Force Attack: How It Works and Ways to Defend
- Simple Brute Force Attack
- Dictionary Attack
- Hybrid Brute Force Attack.
- Reverse Brute Force Attack
- Password Spraying
- Credential Stuffing
Effective Ways to Prevent Brute Force Attacks
The good news is that preventing brute-force attacks is entirely possible. The first step is optimizing password security. For instance, any weak or commonly used passwords such as “123456,” “password,” or “111111” should be changed immediately. Avoid using dictionary words as passwords, as they are easy targets for hackers. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters, and special characters, as these are harder to guess, especially if they do not include easily accessible personal information.
Additionally, every password should be unique for each account. This prevents unintentionally handing over the “keys to the kingdom” and granting a malicious actor access to all your professional and personal accounts simultaneously.
At an organizational level, implementing security features that lock accounts after several failed login attempts can help protect business data. Multifactor authentication (MFA) is another highly effective measure for combating brute force attacks and credential stuffing. It adds an extra layer of security by requiring a secondary verification method, significantly reducing the chances of unauthorized access.
How to Be Proactive and Stay Ahead
The best way to protect yourself from cyber threats is to remain vigilant and adhere to cybersecurity best practices. This includes setting your passwords to auto-expire and ensuring they never contain personal information. Site Lock can assist in safeguarding your data against brute force attacks and numerous other security risks.
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